When World War II started the Australian squadrons were mobilized to go to Europe. However, with the rapid fall of Belgium and France the Australian resources, both aviation and army were diverted to the Middle East and Africa.
Squadron No. Operational Aircraft 3 Sqn 1939 - 1945 Gloster Gladiator
Gloster Gauntlet
Westland Lysander
Hawker Hurricane MkI
Curtiss P40 Tomahawk
Curtiss P40 Kittyhawk
North American P51 Mustang
450 Sqn 1941 - 1945 Hawker Hurricane MkI
Curtiss P40 Kittyhawk
North American P51 Mustang
451 Sqn 1941 - 1945 Hawker Hurricane MkI
Supermarine Spitfire MkIX
454 Sqn 1942 - 1945 Bristol Blenheim MkV
Martin Baltimore III
458 Sqn 1941 - 1945 Vickers Wellington IV
459 Sqn 1941 - 1945 Bristol Blenheim ( borrowed )
Lockheed Hudson III
Lockheed Ventura V
462 Sqn 1943 - 1945 Handley Page Halifax